Means for loading a trailer onto a truck



March 22, 1938.

G. L. LARISON MEANS FOR'` LOADING A TRAILER ONTO A TRUCK Filed Sept. 28,1936 5 Shee'S-Sheet l March 22, 1938. G. LARlsN MEANS FOR LOADING AlTRAILER ONTO A TRUCK Filed sept. 2s, 193e A5 sheets-sheet 2 nn 004 rMMS um .WN Q\ vd M f/ J .l A v y.IM:N\ .x l( v 1 r. T

March 22, 1938.

G. L. LARlsoN MEANS FOR LOADING A TRAILR ONT1A TRUCKA 5 sheets-sheet :s

Filed' sept. 28, 1936 March 22, 1938. "Q L, LARISON 2,112,201

MEANS FOR LOADING A TRAILER ONTO A TRUCK Filed sept. 28, 195e 5sheets-sheet 4 inve/772m.-

Y Hifi/J -March22, 1938. G. LARlsoN 2,112,201 I A MEANS FoR-LoAD1NG-ATRAILER oNTo A TRUCK Filed Sept. 28, 1936 5ShetS-Sheet 5 T .Maud v...df/7f- Patented Mar. 22, 1938 PATENT ori-ica MEANS Fon. LOADING A TamaoN'ro TRUCK Glenn L. Im'ison, La Grande, Oreg. Application september 2s,193s, semi No. 102,946

19 Claims.

My invention relates to trailers used behind trucks, particularlytotrailers used in the hauling of logs or lumber.

It is desirable, when the logs or lumberhave been unloaded from thetrailer, and the. trailer is to be hauled away for any distance, to loadthe trailer onto therear of the truck instead of pulling it along behindthe truck. Loading the empty trailer onto the truck is particularlydesirable when the truck is required to follow a narrow, crooked orsteep road thru the woods. But,v due to the weight of such trailers,particularly the two-axle trailers now generally required for loghauling, the liftingl of the trailer onto the truck presents certaindiilculties.

An object of my invention is to provide simple,

practical means for facilitating the loading of a' trailer, andparticularly a `twoaxle trailer, onto a truck.

Due to the weight and construction of two-axle logging or lumbertrailers, the problem involved is not only the lifting of .the traileronto the truck, but placing it in proper carrying position on the truckand holding it securely in such 25 position.

and trailer equipmentfunctioning to cause the trailer tube loaded andproperlyY placed in the most advantageous carrying position on the truckand to be securely held in such position.

Another object is to have the trailer lifted into the desired restingposition on the truck by means controllable from the truck, making it orother stationary object, and making it unnecessary to employ anyexternal 'means for eiecting the loading of the trailer onto the truck.

If, when the trailer is carried on the truck, the

4o truck is required to pass over rough logging roads, there will bejarring and bouncing of the trailer while on the truck, and particularlyif there is metal to metal contact between the body or axle of thetrailer and the supporting means on the truck; and such bouncing causesundesirable vibration, shock .and strain. A further object of myinvention is to provide means whereby the trailer will rest on the tiresof its wheels when loaded on the truck, thus permitting the trailertires to absorb the.great er portion of the shock` and vibration.

with the hauling of logs, er 1umber, the trauer. must be equippedwithand attached to the truck l by a tongue or reach of suitable length. But

co ance for the proper length of tongue, or insum- Another object of myinvention, therefore, is` to provide means constituting part of thetruck unnecessary to back the trailer against a tree when such traileris to be loaded onto the truck Vcient provision for the automaticfolding of the tongue, and therefore are not practical except forequipment designed for very restricted use.

Accordingly, a further object of my invention is to provide a tongue,suitable for either one or two axle trailers of standard makes, of suchdesign and construction that-it can be made of suitable length, andwill'be automatically and conveniently folded when the trailer is liftedonto the truck.

Another object is to provide suitable holding means on the truck for thefolded tongue when the trailer is loaded on the truck.

These and incidental objects I attain by constructing my loading means,carrying means, reach or tongue and other parts of my device in themanner to be described with reference to the drawn on a slightly largerscale, illustrating various `stages in the loading of the trailer on'the' truck;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevatached trailer, similar toFig. 1, but illustratingl I a modified form o f the reach or tongue bywhichJ the trailer is connected to the truck;

Fig.- 11 `is a partial side elevation, drawn on slightly larger scalethan Fig.,10 and similar to Fig. 5, illustrating the folded position ofthe twosectional tongue of Fig. 10 when the trailer is loaded onto thetruck;

Flg. l2 is a side elevation, similar to Fig. 10, but illustrating myinvention ln'use with a single axle trailer instead of a double' axletrailer;

Flg. 13 is a partial side elevation similar to Fig. 11, illustrating theposition of the single axle trailer and two-sectional tongue when thetrailer ls-loaded onto the truck; and

Flg. '14 is a view, in perspective and onenlarged scale, of a-hingleelement comprising part of a modied construction of my trailer tongue.

Referring rst to Figs. 1 and ?,;the` truck asa whole is indicated by I0and the trailer by Il. 'Ihe trailer illustrated in the drawings is thetwoaxle type of trailer now most generally required for use in haulinglogs, the trailer I l comprises the customary body frame I2 pivotallymounted on a transverse shaft i3, which permits tilting of the body ineither direction. 'I'he bunk I4 is pivotally mounted on the trailer bodyframe I2 for movement in a horizontal plane. A removable tongue rearsection I5 is inserted thru a suitable channel extending thru the centerof the body frame I2, and this tongue rear section is secured againstlongitudinal movement when the trailer is to be loaded onto the truck bya pin I6. A tongue middle section I1 is connected to tongue rear sectionI5 by means of a hinge I3, the details of which will be described later.

Tongue front section I9, hingedly attached-to the rear of the truck IIl, is connected to tongue middle section I1 by suitable means also tobe deto the truck by a spring located within a hous- The truck I0 isprovided with the usual bunk 22 pivotally mounted for rotation in ahorizontal plane on a suitable support 23 attached to the frame of thetruck. The bunk 22 on the truck a curved vertical flange 21 on theirinner edge.

A second pair of inclined tracks or ramps 28, 29 are rigidly attached'to the rear of bunk 22, are

f spaced the same distance apart as ramps 24,

and lead to the top of bunk 22.

A drum 30 is transversely mounted for rotation in the frameof truck I0and is adapted to have a cable 3i wound on it. The cable 3| passes thruthe bunk 22 supported on suitable pulleys or sheaves 32, thence passesunder the outer end of tongue front section I9, thence around a pulleyor sheave 33, -attached to the rear axle of the trailer, and thence-backto the truck, the end of the cable being secured bysuitablemeans to thetruck.

The drum 3D is shown more clearly in Fig. '1. The drum is slidablymounted o n a'shaft 34, said shaft being connected by suitable gearing(not shown) through a two-way power take-oil (not shown) connected withthe transmission gears of the truck, said two-way power take-a' havingone speed forward and one speed in reverse. A lever 36, operable fromthe drivers seat of the truck, has a forked end engaging an annulariiange 31 of the drum 3 0, which leverserves to slide the drum endwiseon the shaft 34, thereby enabling the drum to be moved into or out ofengagement with means (not shown) which aresec'ured to shaft 34 androtated with it. A hand operated winch might be substituted for themotor driven drum if desired.

The construction of the means by which tongue middle section I1 andtongue front section I9 to a shaft 35 adapted to be driven are connectedis shown in Figs. 6, 7, and' 8. A cap 38, having a stub-shaft 33 rigidlysecured. thereto, is attached to the front end of tongue middle sectionI1 by bolts 40. On the stub shaft 39 a swivel link 4I is rotatably heldby a nut l42. The outer end of swivel link 4I is curved and forked, andbetween the pair of curved forks a secondary link 43 is pivoted, theshape of which is shown clearly in Fig. 8. The secondary link 43isforked at both ends, as shown, one pair of forks 44 beingperpendicular to the other pair 45. The forks 44 are hingedly attachedto the forks of the swivel link 4I whilev the forks 45 are hinged to therear end of tongue front section I9.

The hinge I8 connecting tongue rear section I5 and tongue middle sectionI1 is shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 9. It comprises a cap 46 fitting over theforward end of the tongue rear section I5 and secured thereon by bolts,the said cap 46 I being made with extending top and sides forming aU-shaped flange 41, and the sides of'said cap having downwardlyextending ears 43. A companion cap 49, adapted to t within the U- shapediiange 41, and having similar downwardly extending ears 50, arrangedadjacent to the ears 48, is bolted on the adjacent end of tongue middlesection I1. A suitable pin 5I extending thru the two pairs of ears 48and 50 permits limited vertical hinged movement of the tongue sectionsI5 and I1. I v Y The manner in which the trailer is loaded onto thetruck and the operation of the various parts referred to may now bedescribed with reference to Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5. From the initialposition of trailer II, with reference to the truck II), as shown inFig. 1, the trailer is moved towards the truck by the Winding of thecable 3l on the drum 30, the drum being rotated in the manner pretraileragainst the ramps attached to the rear of the truck, the inside wheelsat the front of the trailer mount the first pair of runways or ramps 24and 25, as illustrated in Fig. 4. As the pull on cable 3i continues, theinner front wheels of the trailer move up over the second pair ofrunways orramps 23, 23, and both pairs of forward wheels of the trailerreach the top of the bunk 22. Meanwhile, the inner rear wheels of thetrailer have mounted onto the first pair of runways or ramps 24, 25 andhave come to rest on the central horizontal sections 26 of the runwaysor ramps 24 and 25, as shown in Fig. 5.

A standard 52 is rigidly. attached to the truck, and the standard holdsat its top a U-shaped' rest 53 which isadapted to support the end oftongue section I1 when-the trailer has come to rest in the positionindicated in Fig. 5. A chain 53a has one end rigidly attached to thestandard 52. 'I'he other end of chain 53a is looped over the tongue rearsection I5, after the tongue is at rest, as shown in Fig. 5, andfastened to the vstandard 52 by suitable locking means (not the truck,iscarried in a position which insures proper distribution of'its weighton the truck. It will also be noted that the tongue sections are safelyand securely held in position, and that there is no danger of any of thetongue sections damaging the cab or otherparts of the truck during orafter the' loading operation.

' The unloading of the trailer is likewise a very 'simple matter and isaccomplished without the 'necessity of the operator leaving the driversseat of the truck. The power `take-olf gears are shifted into reverseposition causing the drum 30 slowly to unwind cable 3|, and theunwinding of the cable 3| permits the trailer to roll back until therear wheels of the trailer touch the ground in the position shown inFig. 4. The drum 30 is then moved by lever 36 out of engagement withconnecting holding members causing it to be converted intoa free-runningdrum, thereby permitting the cable 3| to be freely unwound. With thecable 3| free to be unwound, and the brakes on the trailer applied, thetruck lll is now driven forward, causing the tongue sections to unfoldand the trailer and tongue sections to return to the position shown inFig. 3 fand finally to the position in Fig. 1, whereupon the trailer andtruck are now ready for being loaded with logs or lumber.

The tongue sections l5, I1, and |9 are prefer-l ably made of steel. Itis apparent from the construction of the tongue and hinge elements thatthe total tongue length between truck and trailer can easily be modifiedby changing the length of the tongue sections I5 and ll.

The tongue, connecting trailer and truck,

shown in Figs. 1 to '7, inclusive, is comprised of three separatesections joinedV together by suitable means. 'It is possible,` however,in my invention to construct my tongue or reach with vonly two sectionsinstead of three and such modified. tongue construction will be entirelysatisfactory for logs or lumber of short length. Such modiiied tongue isshown in Figs. 10, 1112, and 13.

Referring first to lng the trailer to the truck ||l comprises a tonguerear section and a tongue frontv section 56. Tongue rear section 55 isremovably inserted in a channel extending horizontally, longitudinallythru the center of the frame of trailer ll and the ytongue section 55may be secured against longitudinal movement by clamps 5l attached tosaid tongue section 55 adjacent each end of said channel. Tongue frontsection 55 is attached to the rear of bunk 22 on the truck I0 by a hinge58, permitting tongue front section 56 to swing in an approximatelyvertical plane.. Tongue iront section 5B and tongue rear section 55 areconnected by a hinge element 59 which is shown more clearly in Fig. 14.This hinge element 59 comprises an H-shaped element 6B tothe top ofwhich is attached a cap 6| by screwsll. Said cap 6| is securely clampedoverv the rear end oi.v

tongue front section 5S by the `screws 6|'. The sides of H-shapedelement 50 are extended downward and form a vertical flange on eachside.`

Holes 52 are provided .at thekfront of these anges. A corresponding holeis provided -in the fcrwardend of tongue rear section 55, and a suitablepin B3 thru these registering liolesin 1element 69 and tongue section55. This hinge element 59 will permit tongue sections 55 and 561 to foldtogether upwardly but will hold them` in horizontal position when thetongue is in fully extended position, as illustrated in Fig.. 10. As thetrailer Fig-10,. the tongue connect- A tionedpai'r of runways.

is loaded onto the truck by the winding of cable 3| on the drum 30 inthemanner previously explained, the tongue folds into the position s hownin Fig. l11 and issupported in its folded position by the standard 52 inthe same manner as already described with reference to thethree-sectional tongue of Figs. 1 to '1.

It would be possible in place of,the pair of run- I ways or ramps 24attached to the rear of truck IB,

in the construction illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, to have-a singleinclined runway or ramp extending across the entire width of the back ofthe truck I0. While such a single broad ramp would enable my loadingdevice tofunction in the same manner as indicated, I consider a pair oframps attached to the rear of the truck as preferable and morepractical.

Thus far I have described my invention as applied to two axle trailers.While I consider this the most important application of my invention,nevertheless, my invention may also be used very satisfactorily withsingle axle trailers. Figs. 12

- and 13 illustrate the application of my invention ...with a singleaxle trailer 65 connected to the truck 56 by a two-'sectional tongue154-61. In

' this modeduse of my invention the truck 66 need be equipped with onlya single pair of runways' or ramps 68, as'shown clearly in Fig. 13. In`all other respects the construction is the same as that alreadydescribed.

` The single axle trailer 65 of Figs. 12 and 13 might also, if desired,be attached to the truck by a three-sectional tongue similar to thatshown for the double axle trailer in Figs. 1 to 7.

The term ramp as used in reference to my invention is to be understoodas meaning any .inclined plane, track, or runway on which a wheel of atrailer or similar vehicle may rolland be supported.

I Claim: i

1. In combination with a double axle trailer a truck adapted to tow saidtrailer, and a tongue attaching said trailer to said truck, means forloading said trailer on said truck, said loading means including a pairof inclined runways, one

von each side, secured t"'o the rear of the truck chassis, a second pairof inclined runways on said truck located forward of and above and inapproximate alinement with said rst mentioned pair of runways, a drummounted on said truck, means f or rotating said drum, a cable connectingsaid trailer and said drum, one end of said cable adapted to be woundonsaid drum, whereby the rotation of said drum will causel said trailer tobe drawn towards the truck until the forward wheels of said trailertouch said first mentioned pair of esV runways, whereupon continuedrotation of said Y drum will cause the forward wheels oi' said trailerto roll up on said rst mentioned pair of runways and subsequently ontosaid second pair of runways, the rear wheels of 4said trailer during thef lastI interval rolling up on'said first men- 2. The combinationdescribed by claim 1 with each'oi the rstv pair of said runways havingtwo inclined sections, a horizontal section therebetween, anda verticalguide flange.

3. In combination with a truck, and a. trailer adapted to betowedby saidtruck, a foldable tongue connectingsaid 'trailer to said truck, said'tongue including a tongue rear section attached connection between saidtongue front section and said tongue middlevsection.

4'. The combination described by claim 3 with the addition of means forholding said tongue front section extended from said truck.

5. In combination with a truck, and a trailer adapted to be -towed bysaid truck, a foldable tongue connecting said trailer to said truck,said tongue including a tongue rear section adjustably attached to saidtrailer, atongue middle section, a hinge connecting said tongue rearsection and said tongue middle section, a tongue front section hingedlymounted on said truck, a universal joint connection between said tonguefront section and said tongue middle section, and spring means adaptedto suspend said tongue front section resiliently extended from saidtruck.

6. The combination of a truck, a trailer adapted to be towed by saidtruck, va foldable tongue connecting said trailer to said truck, saidtongue having a tongue rear section attached to said trailer, a tonguemiddle section, and a tongue ,front section, saidtongue front sectionhingedly attached to said truck; means for Aloading said trailer on saidtruck, said loading means includinga pair of runways, one on each side,secured to the rear end of said truck, each of said' runways adapted toengage a wheel -of said trailer; a drum mounted on said truck, meansvforrotating said drum, a cable connecting said trailer and said drum, oneend of said cable adapted to be wound on said drum by the rotation ofsaid drum; whereby the rotation of said drum will cause said trailer tobe drawn towards said truck until a wheel on each side of said trailertouches said runways and whereupon continued rotation of said drum willcause said trailer wheels to roll upon said runways.

'1. 'I'he combination described by claim 6 with the addition of meansfor holding said tongue in place on said truck when said trailer isloaded on said truck.

8. The combination described by claim 6 with the addition of meansadapted to hold said tongue front section extended from the rear of saidtruck. A

9. The combination of a truck, a double-axle trailer adapted to be towedby said truck, a foldable tongue connecting said trailer to said truck,

said.tongue including'a tongue rear section at,

of said trailer when said trailer is moved onto said truck, a secondpair of runways on said truck located forward of and in approximatealinement with said ilrst mentioned' pair of runways, a drum mounted Vonsaid truck, means for rotating said drum, a cable connecting saidtrailer and said drum, one end of said cable adapted to be wound on saiddrum, a sheave on said truck,

said sheave supporting said cablebetween said drum and said trailer, andmeans for supporting `said tongue sections on said truck when saidV.traileris loaded onto saidtruck.

10. The combination described in claim 9 with said means for rotatingsaid drum operated by the motor oi said truck.

1l. The combination oi a trailer and a truck of the character described,an inclined runway rigidly secured to the rear of said truck and locatedrearwardly of the rear axle of said truck, a foldable tongue connectingsaid trailer to said truck, means located on said truck for drawinglrear of said truck, said runways attached [to the truck rearwardly ofthe rear axle of said truck,

each of said runways adapted to provide a track and a support for awheel of said trailer when said trailer is moved onto said truck, atongue for said trailer and means for supporting said tongue on saidtruck.

14. The combination described by claim 13 with the lower ends of saidinclined runways being substantially the same height from the ground asthe rear axle of said truck.

- 15. The combination described by claim 13 with each of said runwayshaving two inclined sections and a horizontal section therebetween.

16. 'I'he combination described by claim 13 with each of said runwayshaving two inclined sections and a horizontal section therebetween, thelength of said horizontal section being less than the diameter of thewheels of said trailer.

17. The combination described by claim 13 including means for pullingsaid trailer towards said truck and for causing a trailer wheel to rollup each of said runways.

18. The combination described by claim 13 including means for pullingsaid trailer towards said truck and for causing a trailer wheel to rollup each of said' runways, and means for securing said trailer on saidtruck when a trailer wheel has mounted a predetermined distance up eachof said runways.

19. In combination witha logging truck and a logging trailer adaptednormally to be towed by said truck, a pair of inclined runways, one oneach side, rigidly secured to the rear of said truck,t

said runways locatedrearwardly of the rear axle of Ysaid truck, each ofsaid runways adapted to provide atrack and a support for a wheel of saidtrailer when said trailer is moved onto said truck, a tongue for saidtrailer and means for supportlng said tongue on said truck, each of saidrunways having two inclined sections and a horizontal sectiontherebetween, the length of said horizontal section being less than thediameter of the wheels of said trailer, means for pulling said trailertowards said truck and for causing a trailer wheel to roll up each ofsaid runways, and means for securing said trailer on'said truck with atrailer 'wheel resting on each of said horiiz'ontal sections of saidrunways.

GLENN Il. T IARISON.

